31From Benjamin Franklin to Antoine-Raymond-Gualbert-Gabriel de Sartine, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Orders which your Excellency did me the honor to inform me (in your Letter of the 13. of January last) were sent to all the Ports, for receiving into his Majesty’s Prisons, the English Prisoners brought in by our Cruizers, have not it seems arriv’d at Brest. For I have just received a Letter from M. Schweighauser of Nantes, who has the Care of the Prisoners taken...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 20 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Je prends la Liberté d’introduire aupres de votre Excellence le Commodore Gillon de la Caroline Meridionale. Cet Etat l’envoie en France pour y negocier une Affaire tres Importante. Il desireroit soumettre quelques Propositions aux Lumieres de votre Excellence, & je me flatte qu’elle voudra bien lui accorder une Audience favorable. J’ai L’honneur d’etre avec beaucoup...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 26 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Votre Excellence voudra bien recevoir mes Remerciemens pour La Reception favorable dont elle a honoré le Commodore Gillon qui en est on ne peut plus satisfait. Il est echoué sur Les Cotes de France dans Le Mois de Janvier dernier un Vaisseau Anglois nommé l’Amphitrite. Il y avoit a bord de ce Vaisseau trois Matelots Americains qui s’y etoient embarqués a Londres pour...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 1 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Commodore Gillon has shown me a Project for reducing the English Force in Georgia, by the Help of some Ships from hence. I am not sufficiently a Judge of Military Operations to speak positively of it. I can only say that in my Opinion the Advantage arising from its Success would be very great to the Common Cause; and that the extensive Confidence which appears by his...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 18 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress By Letters I am daily receiving, I find there are in various Prisons of France a number of American Sailors, who having been forced into the english Service and since taken, remain confined with those of that Nation; but are very desirous of serving their own Country, in any of our Ships of War; and to that end, request I would obtain their Discharge from their...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 23 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; copy: Library of Congress Je Recois dans ce moment La Lettre que vostre Excellence m’a fait L’honneur de m’ecrire Le vingt de ce mois, et Je m’empresse a faire tout Cequi peut estre agreable a Sa Majesté; en ecrivant au Capitaine Landais, Commandant La fregatte L’alliance arrivee a Nantes avec quatrevingt treize prisonniers de Se Rendre Le plutost possible a...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 27 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am much obliged to M. deshayes, Commissaire des Classes a Cherbourg, for the Care your Excellency informs me he has taken of the poor Americans that have escaped from England and arrived at that Port. I shall desire him to send me his Account of the Expence he has already been at in relieving them, that I may discharge it; and I shall request him to continue his...
38From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 29 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I have received a Letter from Mr. Wm. Bingham, Agent for the Congress at Martinique, covering the inclosed for your Excellency, and giving an Account of an unhappy Mistake, in which a Vessel belonging to some Subjects of the U. S. was sunk by one of the Batteries of Guadeloupe, & 17 of the People drowned. I request your Excellency would take the Matter into...
39From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 1 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Archives de la Marine, Library of Congress Conformement à la demande de Votre Excellence je vous envoye cy joint les lettres et les instructions que j’ai adressées aux Captn Jones et Landais. Je suis très respectueusement De Votre Excellence Le très humble et très obeissant Serviteur In English. Sartine’s request is that of April 27. The communications to Landais are dated April 24 and...
40From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 8 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received the honour of your Excelly’s: Letter of the 3d. Instant. I am very Sensible of the King’s Goodness, in granting Liberty to the Americans who have been taken Prisoners in the English Service as by that means his Majesty Lessons the Number of the Prisoners that may be exchanged for his own Subjects; and I think we ought whenever we can Show our Gratitude...